Raksha Bandhan 2025: Surge in Cyber Scams Here’s How to Stay Safe
As Raksha Bandhan 2025 approaches and families prepare to celebrate the cherished bond between siblings, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the festive season to launch a wave of online scams. With more people shopping for rakhis, sweets, and gifts via digital platforms rather than visiting physical stores, fraudsters have found fresh opportunities to deceive unsuspecting consumers.
According to cybersecurity firm CloudSEK, cyber threats around the festival have increased, targeting users through various digital channels:
- Phishing Attempts: Fraudsters are flooding inboxes, SMS, and WhatsApp with links to fake “Rakhi gifts,” “exclusive coupons,” or “free giveaways.” Clicking these malicious links could lead to stolen personal or financial data.
- Fake E-commerce Sites: Several counterfeit websites have been set up, imitating trusted online stores and offering attractive Raksha Bandhan deals. Users who fall for these offers risk exposing their banking details.
- Social Media Traps: Scammers are also leveraging platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote fake deals, tricking users into making payments or revealing sensitive information.
- UPI and Gift Card Scams: Criminals may send fake QR codes or UPI requests disguised as Rakhi gift offers. One popular scam falsely claims to offer ₹5,000 gift cards under the PM Mudra Yojana, redirecting victims to phishing websites to initiate unauthorized payments.
How to Protect Yourself This Festive Season:
- Shop only from trusted and verified platforms you’ve used before.
- Avoid scanning QR codes from unknown sources.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts.
- Be cautious of unfamiliar links in messages, emails, or ads.
- Double-check website URLs for spelling errors or suspicious domains.
- Verify the authenticity of promotional messages or emails before engaging.
Raksha Bandhan is a time for love and connection—but it’s also a time to stay alert. By adopting safe online habits, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling prey to scams and enjoy a peaceful, secure celebration.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
